Your player house is located within the boundaries of the stronghold, but it is its own building with its own upgrades/benefits.

I think physically splitting the house and the stronghold increases the likelihood that the player will choose to not visit one or the other (most likely, the house) over the course of the game.

It doesn't need to be a major source at all.[stronghold income] It becomes a problem if it's an endless source.

It isn't an endless source.

Good. Because in your other games with keeps/strategical resources, it was endless.

I didn't design the stronghold resources/systems in any of the previous games I've worked on. If a system gives out a resource periodically, it should either expire after a number of periods have elapsed or the periods should stop elapsing.

Thanks for the post. It's a long read, but there's a number of interesting details. The various percentile ranges and combat mechanics make it sound more like RoleMaster than D&D, but I'm okay with that. Looks like most of the game mechanics have been worked out. Can't wait…

While you start P:E with a single character, the game will pick up pace quickly. You will get a stronghold before the end of act 1, and before 2/3s into the game, you will have met every single companion, which I take to mean that you can have a full party of six rather early.